UWB and RFID: a comparison and contrast

Summary form only given. Both ultra wideband (UWB) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies are relatively new in the marketplace with regard to their applicability and commercial implementation. While RFID is a passively attached tag, UWB simultaneously transmits data via extremely short pulses across a wide band of frequencies. The FCC has approved 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz for its use. UWB can transmit more data with less interference than RFID; therefore, it appears promising for future applications. We explore the features and applications of UWB and RFID in this paper, and conclude with a comparison and contrast of these emerging technologies.